Heater



July 31,1945.

. J. PRIMROSE ET AL HEATER Filed ot'.v 22, 1942 2 sheets-sheet 2 ATTQRNEY thereof, and in which:

Patented July 3 1, 1945 UNITED STATES rPATENT OFFICE f HEATER John Primrose, Staten Island, N. Y., and Charles E. McCulloch, Westfield, N. J., assignors to lFoster Wheeler Corporation, New York, N. Y.,

a corporation of New York Application October 22, 1942, Serial No. 462,938

12 Claims. (Cl. 122-356) This invention relates to heaters, and more particularly pertains to luid heating apparatus of the type in which the fluid to be heated is passed through tubular members in heat exchange reltationship with a stream of products of combus- The invention provides novel means for controlling the ilow of the heating gases over fluid conducting tubular members in such heaters,v both with respect to direction and velocity. The flow controlling means is composed of a multiplicity of flow controlling units which are associated with the tubular members and are removably supported by them in such manner that the flow controlling means is not in contact with the tubular members and does not shield them from the heat- The invention will be understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of part of an oil heater embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view, on an enlarged scale. on line2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view, on a further enlarged scale, on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but on a larger scale;

li-l of Fig. 4; Y f

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a unit of the gas flow controlling means shown in Figs. 1 to 5;

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of a hanger for the flow controlling means;

Fig. 8 is a transverse vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 5, showing another form of gas flow controlling means embodying the invention, and

Fig. 9.is a perspective view of a unit of the gas flow controlling means shown in Fig. '7.

Like characters of reference refer to the same or to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, referencecharacter I designates a heater suitable for the heating of liquids such as hydrocarbon oils and the like, al-

vertical wall I5 parallel to the side walls, divides the enclosure into two furnaces IB and i1, and a similar vertical wall I8 separates furnace I8 from the convection heating zone I9. The furnaces are separately fired, furnace IB being fired by a burner located in the front wall Il.

Abank oi' roof tubes 2| is supported just below the roof of each furnace, and a bank of wall tubes 22 is supported adjacent each side wall of each furnace. A row of tubes 23 defines the bottom of each furnace chamber, and these tubes are closely spaced and extend parallel to the roof tubes 2|. The tubes 23k are connected at their ends by headers 24 to provide series ilow therethrough of the medium tobe heated, and are supported adjacent their ends by supports 25 and 2l, and intermediate their ends by supports 21 which rest upon piers 28. The gasesV produced by the burner 20 in each furnace, are cooled by heat radiated to the heat absorbing surface therein and fall by gravity to the bottom of the furnace, whence they stream over the tubes 23 and between these tubes and the gas flow kcontrolling means associated therewith into one or more gas passages 29,

25 through which the gases flow into the heating Fig. 5 is aV transverse Ysectional view on line zone i9 and over the tubes of an economiser 20 therein to a flue 3 l.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to "I, the gas flow controlling means consists of bames composed of a plurality of units I2 of firevbrick, insulating flrebrick or other suitable materiah of generallyy rectangular parallelopiped form, which are removably supported from the narrow, elongated gas passages 33 through which the gases ow from the furnaces to the passages though it is not limited to the heating of'such oils, l

29. The upper side edges of the flow control units l2 are bevelled, as indicated at 3l, to direct the flow of gases along the under sides of the tubes 2l, so that the entire peripheries of the tubes willk from the outer end of the other leg. Flange 3B hasvan extension 31 projecting parallel to the leg of the' hanger of which it forms a part and toward the U-bend portion of the hanger. The units I2 are shown as located slightly below a plane passing through the axes of the tubes 23, but they may be positioned otherwise with relation to the tubes, if desired. The U-bend portion of each hanger preferably is circular or oval in transverse crosssectional configuration, while the leg portions. the

' the lunits .4I will beV rintended.

flanges and the flange extension are of rectangu- 4lar transverse cross-section configuration. Two

hangers 35 are utilized to support each unit. The unit is slotted at 39 to receive the leg portions of the hangers, and is recessed at 40 to receive the flange extension 31 fairly snugly. As shown, the units 32 in each row are placed'end to end, but they may be spaced apart if greater area for the flow of gases from the furnace is desired, or if space is required for expansion of the units. Preferably, the hangers are placed on the tubes with the flanges 36 and. extensions 31 at one side of each tube as shown. With this arrangement, the baille units rest on the flanges of the hangers and are securely retained in position, but are readily removable andl replaceable without damage to the unit or to their supporting means or to the tubes.

The form of the baille unit 4i shown in Figs. 8 and 9 vis thesame as the form shown'in Figs. l to 7 excepting that its width is approximately equalto the distance between adjacent legs of hangers on adjacent tubes, thus eliminating the necessity for slots to receive the hanger legs, and 4,

it has no bevell'ed edges. Without the bevelled edges onv the units `4|the gases flowing from the furnaces through .the passages between the units and the tubes will not be directed laterally to the extent they will be directed with the units 32, but satisfactory for the purpose By Wayof illustration but without any limiting effect onthe invention,the dimensions of the 32 which will be satisfactory for use with 5" tubes arez-length 24; width 41/2;

bevelled edges .1/2 from side andjl" .from top; depth of recesses 40, 11/2'. -The dimensions ofthe 24f; width 3%"; height .3; depth of recesses 40, 11/2. It will be understood that these-dimening may be mentioned.

The baille ls utilized to block to the desired extent the openings between the tubesat the bottom of the furnace in the form of the inven tion selected for illustration, instead of covering these tubes as lthe ordinaryl form of baflle,leaky or otherwise, does, with consequent reduction in height 3"; I

units 4| for the same size of tubes are: length sions may be varied as desired to suit the operat its effectiveness.. but the baille of the invention'- actually increases the effectiveness of the heating surface by controlling the directionscf theilow of gases with respect to the heating surface and the velo'city with which the gases wipe the tubes.

This is advantageous in preventing warping of f the tubes, which is often Vcaused by subjecting thel The tubes of the furnace with which the flow controlling means is associated, are eeto ex# pand and contract without displacin the baille means or any unit thereof. Any bowing of the tubes, due to improper firing of the furnace or Y, other causes, will not displace the baille units and permit uneven flow of the gases over the tubes.`

The flow area of the gas passages 33 between the baffle units and the tubes may be varied as desired. This may be accomplished by substituting hangers having longer or shorter legs, or if the flow area of these passages are to be rincreased, this may be accomplished by removing material from the edges or side portions, or both, of the units, or by increasing the depth of the recesses 40 and providing slots for the reception of the flanges 36 and 38 to lower the positions of the units with respect to the tubes. Additional gas passage flow area may be provided by spacing the baille units with respect to each other or by increasing the spacing between them.

The tubes of the heater witnwhich the baille means is associated may be removed and replaced without damage to any part of the baille, simply by removing the units associated with the tube or tubes to be removed and replacing them after the tubes have been replaced. Also, the entire vbaille means is readily accessible for repairs and adjustments, and if any repairs are required to the heater flooring under the baille means, the lbaille means may be removed readily and replaced after the floor has been repaired. The lbaille means is extremely simple in construction and is inexpensive to produce, to install, and to maintain.' The units have small weight, width and volume, and inasmuch as the baffle units are all alike, and the hangers also are all alike, the number and cost of spare parts for the baille means is reduced to a minimum. `No special materials are 'required for the units and hangers,V but readily available materials may be employedl which are suitable for the temperature Aand `other conditions to be encountered in the operation of the heater. As previously mentioned, the units may be either of rebrick orof -insulating firebrick.

bottom of the furnace areexposed tothe iiow of gases. Andl because the hangers are in contact with the tubes, they are cooled by the conduction of heat to the tubes due tothe lower temperature of the medium flowing Ithrough the tubes. Because of the shape of the hangers, thebale units will be held flrmlyin place, since any tendency of the hangers to `rotateonthe tubes will result in binding the units'and the legs of the hangers. The units are not likely to be displaced accidentally,finasmuch as each unit and its two hangers will tend to move simultaneously. l

It will beunderstood that the forms of the invention illustrated are preferred forms, and that changes may be made in the form, location and relativearrangement of the several parts of the baille means and the associated apparatus without departing from the principles of the invention. In view, thereof, it is understood that the invention is not to be' limitedl excepting by the scope of the appended claims.l

`What is claimed is:

1. In heat exchange apparatus having a plurality of spaced substantially horizontal and substantially parallel tubular members, means comprising a baille disposed at least in part inthe spaces between the tubular members with a space ior fluid flow betweenv the'bale and the adjacent tubes, the baille havinga recess-in the under side thereof, and a hanger for supporting the bailles,

said hanger being' of suhstantially inverted U- shape supported by a tube with the legs on oppositesides of the tube. the legs of the. hunner "to lthe vleg' havinglsaid one flange and yadapted to I,"

yextend into the recess in :the baille;

2. heat-exchange apparatus having4 a plurality of spaced substantially-horizontalpandsublsta-ntially 'parallel' tubular members, means -compr-isfing ja `ballle`-disposedat -least -inpartinthe l10 dlange 'having an exten-sion substantially parallel 'to Athe leg-having; said fone flange Aand adapted to v extend `into the recess inthe baille;`v y l f6. In fluid heating. apparatusicomprising means forming a furnace having a gasoutletat the lbotspaces between the tulblilaztmember's2-with` a space for-fluid now-between `-the baflletandithe Aadjacent tu`bes4 thebaffles-@havingrecesses in the under l side thereoff and a plurality `:of f hangers` 'for-sup porting the-'baos'.- "sa-id hangersv being .of substantial-ly inverted \`U eshapel.supperfted by `and :axially spaced on said tubes -w`ith y the legs `onsopposite `f rsides-ofthe tube, vthe legslof the hangers having a laterally extending flange- :nponj whichfth'e .baf-

fles onl opposite .sideso'f Aa tuberest,4 one=flange f having an extension substantially para-llelfto the leg havinglsaid one'` --flange and Y adapted` to extend iinto one of -the .recesseslin a baille, -thgahangers being disposed ort-the tubes'so--that thefextension on the 'hangers'oI1=-one-ofv :the tubes extend into the' :recesses `in f the A:baille :between said# f vv123380,46-1

. jposite sides of the tubeythelegsofgthe hanger v having-:a*laterally `extending Aiiangeuponv which the lbafflesiony opposite sidesof -a v'tube 1 rest, one

tom thereof; meansfor firing the furnace,.- and n apaced,-;substantially horizontal and substantially paraI-lelTv lluid =conductingrtubular 'members' :ex-`

` tending-across -the Igas outlet, Lmeans comprising .beiow.;.a :plane passing. througnthe.axesaoffsaid f =a 1ballledis`pos`ed at least in .part the space 4between adjacent. tubes `with va `space `,for .fluid `llovv between theeballle' and fthe:` tube and positioned e f tubular members, and a hangerfforlsupporting the y .baffle tof Vsubstantially-finverted U-.sh-ape-supported 'one tube andlanadiacenttubeand the .extension on the hangers on said .adjacent tubeextenjd into next adj acent tube thereto. f

. -thebaille' .between- .said yadjacentf.tube' and the 3. In 4heatexchange:apparatusr-.llavingI pluri-f ality- .of spaced .substantially horizontal-nandlsubstantially .parallel tubular members; a baille;.com-1V prlsingza plurality ofblocks'fofgenerally rectanlgular. "parallelopiped :form Y disposed f. iat least. .Y in i -part yin 'thespacesbetween ther tubular members but .out of contact with lsaid :memberakthe :blocks t having a recessy iri-the aunderside thereof, and a Apluralityof hangers for-supporting the blocks said hangers being of `substantially invertedrU -shape f supported by a tube with th'elegs on opposite sides of the tube, the legs of the hanger having a laterally extending flange upon which the blocks on opposite sides of a tube rest, one ilange having an extension substantially parallel to the leghaving said one ange and adaptedl to extend into one of the recesses in one of theblocks of a baille, the hangers being disposed on the tubes so that the extension 0n the hangers on one of the tubes extend into the recessesin the .blocks of the baille between said one tube andan adjacent 1 tube and the extension on the hangers on said adjacent tube extend into the blocks of the baille between said adjacent tube and the nextadjacent tube thereto.

` 4. In fluid heating apparatus comprising'means forming a furnace having a gas' outlet at the botl tom thereof, means for firing the furnace,l and spaced, substantially horizontal and substantially parallel fluid conducting tubular members extending across the gas outlet, means comprising a baffle disposed at least in part in the space between adjacent. tubes with a space for fluidv flow between the baille and the tube, and a hanger for supporting the baille of substantially inverted U-shape supported by a tube with the legs on opposite sides of the tube, one leg of the hanger by aitubewiththe legs on: opposite .fsidesof the,

tube., .one wleg: of`V the hanger having a laterally extending llange 4upon-whichthebame 'rests'.4

. vInfluid heatingffapparatus comprisingme'ans fformngi'av-furnacehaving a Lgas 'outlet at the bott'omthereof, mea-nsfor liring the-furnace, and

4spaced; substantially horizontal and substantially parallel iluid :conducting.-tubular membersex-` --tending i' across, thev gas outlet; means .comprising a-baille disposed* at least ,in'fpart Vin the space -betweengadjacent .tubes-but out :of .contact with Isaid members andA below a planepass-ing through ythe l.axes -ofpthe :tubular members, and -a hangervfor supporting.gthesbailleof substantiallyA inverted U- `shapesupported by a tube with the legs on opposite sides of the tube, one leg of the hanger having a laterally extending flange upon which the baille rests.

' bers extending across the gas outlet, a baille com- 8. In fluid heating apparatus comprising means forming a furnace having ak gas outletr at the bottom thereof, means for firing the furnace,

and spaced, substantially horizontal and substantially parallel fluid conducting tubular memprising a plurality of blocksl of generallyrectangular parallelopiped form disposed at least in part ini the spaces between the tubular members but out of contact with said members and below A' a plane passing through the axes of they tubular members, the blocks having a recess in the under side thereof, and a pluralityv of hangers for supey the hanger having a laterally extending flange porting the blocks said hangers being ofsubstantially inverted U-shape supported by a tube with the legs on opposite sides of the tube, the legs of upon Which the blockson opposite `sides of ka tube rest, one flange having an extension substantially parallel to the .leg having said one flange and adapted to extend into one of the having a laterally extending flange upon which n recesses in one of the blocks of aballle, the hangers being disposed on the tubes so that the f extension on the` hangers on one of the tubes extend into thev recesses in the blocks of the baille between said one tube and an adjacent substantially parallel tubular members, meansl Abetweeniitlrieft'ubular memberslwith awspa'oefior f fluid ovvf-betweenlthe baille-fand@the va'djacent. -tub'esthe baille having la recess in kthe under side thereof, '-anda hanger*for supporting the @balllea' hanger beingfoflsubstantially inverted'U'- `sha-pe :supportedffby a-'ltubewith the legs 'on-op# comprising a baille disposed at least part in the space between adjacent tubes with a space for fluid flow between the baille and the tube, adjacent bailles being spaced from one another to permit the flow of uid in heat exchange relationship with a portion of the tube therebetween, and hangers for supporting the baille of substantially inverted U-shape, the hangers being positioned on adjacent'tubes andl supported by a tube with the legs on opposite sides of the tube, one leg of a hanger on one of the tubes and one leg of a hanger on the adjacent tube having a flange extending laterally therefrom into the space between said adjacent tubes upon which flanges the baffle rests. l

10. In heat exchange apparatus having a plurality of spaced substantially horizontal and substantially parallel tubular members, means comprising a baffle disposed at least in part in the space between adjacent tubes but out of contact with said members, adjacent bailles being spaced from one another to permit the ow of fluid in heat exchange relationship with a portion of the tube therebetween, and hangers for supporting the baille of substantially inverted U-shape, the hangers being positioned on adjacent tubes and supported by a tube with the legs on opposite sidesof the tube, one leg of a hanger on one of the tubes and one leg of a hanger on the adjacent tube having a ange extending laterally therefrom into the space between said adjacent tubes upon which ilanges the baille rests.

1l. In heat exchange apparatus having a plurality of spaced substantially horizontal and substantially parallel tubular members, means comprising a baille disposed at least in part in the spaces between the tubular members with a space for iluid iiow between the baille and the adjacent tubes, the bale having a recess in the under side thereof, adjacent bailles being spaced from one vanother to permit the flow of fluid in heat exchange relationship with a portion of the tube therebetween, and hangers for supporting the baille of substantially inverted U-shape, the hangers being positioned on adjacent tubes and supported by a tube with the legs on opposite sides of the tube, one leg of a hanger on one of the tubes and one leg of a hanger on the adjacent tube having a ange extending laterally therefrom into the space between said adjacent tubes upon which ilanges the baffle rests, a flange of at least one of the legs having an extension substantially parallel to the leg having said flange and adapted to extend into the recess in the baille.

12. In iluid heating apparatus comprising means forming a furnace having a gas outlet at the bottom thereof, means for ring the furnace, and spaced, substantially horizontal and substantially parallel iluid conducting tubular members extending across the gas outlet, means comprising a baille disposed at least in part in the space between adjacent tubes with a space for fluid flow between the baille and the tube, adjacent baffles being spaced from one another to permit the ilow of rfluid in heat exchange relationship with a portion of the tube therebetween, and hangers for supporting the baille of substantially inverted U-shape, the hangers being positioned on adjacent tubes and supported by a tube with the legs on opposite sides of the tube, one leg of a hanger on one of the tubes and one leg of a hanger on' the adjacent tube having a flange extending laterally therefrom into the space between said adjacent tubes upon which flanges the baille rests.

JOHN PRIMROSE. CHARLES E. McCULLOCI-l. 

